THOUSANDS of families will get £325 free supermarket vouchers this winter.
The cash vouchers are provided through the Household Support Fund worth £421million.
Thousands of residents in North Yorkshire are due up to £325 in electronic vouchers to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets
And fresh funding for the scheme is available to local authorities until March next year.
The scheme was first established last year, extended for the second time in the March budget and for a third time in November to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.
The vouchers or grants on offer vary by location so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
You’ll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.
Thousands of residents in North Yorkshire are due electronic vouchers to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.
And eligible households can get up to £325 in free supermarket vouchers depending on their circumstances.
What are councils offering and who is eligible?
Local authorities have had some autonomy on how they use the Fund to reach the vulnerable people in their communities.
Eligibility requirements will vary depending on where you live – so check directly with your council if you could get the cash help.
For example, residents eligible for the scheme who live in York could get between £85 and £325.
Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for the cash help if you or a family member was in receipt of:
- Housing benefit
- Council tax reduction
Those receiving housing benefit on or between August 26 2022, and September 25 2022, that did not qualify for the second cost of living payment for people on low-income benefits or tax credits, will receive a single electronic voucher worth £325.
The second cost of living payment was paid in November to people getting Universal Credit, income support, pension credit, income-based jobseekers allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, child tax credit and working tax credit.
Those getting the maximum discount to pay their council tax bill through the means-tested council tax reduction scheme as of November 30 2022, will receive a single electronic voucher worth £85.
If you meet both of the above criteria for both housing benefit and maximum council tax reduction you’ll be in line to receive a voucher worth £325.
How do I apply for the Household Support Fund?
Some households will be notified that they can apply for the cash help and others will receive the cash automatically.
Again, your council will set out whether or not you need to apply for the free cash.
Those living in North Yorkshire do not need to apply for the cash help.
Anyone eligible will be sent a letter by January, 16 – so keep an eye out for the post.
The letter will contain all the information needed about how to claim and use the electronic vouchers.
Last year residents of North Yorkshire were able to spend the value of these vouchers at supermarkets, including Aldi, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
And some supermarkets also accept them when shopping online as well as in-store, and you can check the full list on North Yorkshire’s website.
North Yorkshire Council has said that it will update its Household Support Fund webpage to include lists of retailers accepting the cash vouchers when letters have been sent out to all eligible households by January 16.
Is there other support available?
As part of the Autumn Statement yesterday, it was revealed millions on benefits and Universal Credit will receive an extra one-off £900.
Eight million households currently get cost of living payments worth up to £650, but eligibility criteria could change under any new rules.
Right now, eligibility is the list of benefits mentioned above.
Pensioners have also started getting a £300 one-off payment.
The current pensioner cost of living payment is being handed out to millions on a low income.
You qualify under the current rules if you normally get the winter fuel payment, but this could change under the new rules.
The £300 cost of living payment is paid on top of the other winter support.
You’ll need to be:
- born on or before 25 September 1956
- have lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 in what is known as the “qualifying week”
Struggling families are eligible for the Warm House Discount to help them tackle the cost of living.
The scheme is where eligible households can get £150 off their electricity bill each winter – but you’ll have to wait until the colder months to get the money off.
Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.
You can read more about who’s eligible here.
There are also plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling.
British Gas has recently confirmed that it’ll pay its most vulnerable customers grants worth £750 to help with sky-high bills.
Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply, or check here:
- British Gas Energy Trust
- Bulb energy fund
- EDF’s energy customer support fund
- E.on’s energy fund
- Ovo’s debt and energy assistance
- Scottish Power’s hardship fund
There’s also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you’re on a prepayment metre.
